A SWIMMER has vanished following a reported shark attack off the Marin County coast, California, sparking a huge search.
Search crews are scouring the water after the Coast Guard received a report at 10.40am that a swimmer had been attacked and pulled under the water by a shark at Wildcat Beach off Point Reyes.
The missing swimmer was dragged under the water by a shark at Point Reyes Beach, California on SundayGetty
KTVUAs of 5pm on Sunday, search and rescue crews had not found anyone in the water[/caption]
Firefighters from Marin County responded and discovered that three men had gone swimming and one of them was attacked.
Two of the men saw the water turn red with blood and desperately swam to return to shore and did not see their friend again.
According to the men, the group had been swimming approximately 25 to 50 yards from the beach when the attack happened.
Firefighters, two jet skis, a Coast Guard boat, and a helicopter all joined the search for the missing swimmer but have so far been unsuccessful.
Grace Patton, public information office for the Coast Guard’s San Francisco sector told the San Francisco Chronicle that four agencies had sent out first responders by land, sea, and air to search for the missing person.
The National Park Service said that as of 5pm on Sunday, searchers had still not located the swimmer.
Senior Captain Ben Ghisletta with the Marin County Fire Department spoke to KPIX on Sunday afternoon.
He said: “We went to a high point on the campground area above the beach.
“We were able to observe a good portion of the ocean from there.
“We had two people with binoculars overseeing the rescue.”
Lt Rachel Davis with the Coast Guard added: “After searching 21 square nautical miles in ideal search conditions, we’ve been unsuccessful so far.
“The intent here is to continue the search.”
However, Battalion Chief Todd Overshiner from the Fire Department warned: “The further amount of time, it decreases the chance of survivability.”
The identity of the missing swimmer has not been released by authorities but they say he is approximately 50 years old.
According to officials, the three men who went swimming were part of a camping group of 10 to 15 people who were staying at the Wildcat Campground just above the beach.
The area is popular with hikers who are praying that the man will be found.
Local resident and keen hiker Danielle Harnisch told the news outlet: “These waters are extremely dangerous and most locals know not to go for a swim.
“There’s either a huge drop-off, sharks, rip currents – very dangerous.”
She added: “To my knowledge, yeah, this could be the first fatal shark attack [in the Marin County Area].
“But we are hopeful that he’ll be found.”
It is not known what type of shark is thought to have been involved in the attack but the National Park Service website warns that Great Whites can sometimes be seen in the area during the fall.
However, it notes that the risk of being attacked by them is “extremely small” with the Fire Department adding that shark attacks are rare in that area.
From 2000 to 2021 there were only five attacks reported that involved a great white shark and none of them were fatal but they all took place in the fall and close to the shore.
During this time of year seals and sea lions, which are a main source of food for such sharks, come up to the shores.
Officers from the Fire Department, National Park Service, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Coast Guard are all continuing the search at daybreak.
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